Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Mr. Dare Odufowokan, has faulted claims by Senator Gbenga Daniel that he won the Ogun East senatorial ticket in 2023 through a primary election.
Speaking during an interview on Television Continental on Saturday, Odufowokan alleged that no primary election took place, insisting that Senator Daniel was at the palace of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, finalising a consensus arrangement when the exercise was supposed to hold.
His position was supported by the National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the Labour Party and former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, who said opposition parties currently enjoy unprecedented freedom under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
According to Odufowokan, journalists, party supporters, and stakeholders waited until late at night on the day of the supposed primary before the Director-General of Senator Lekan Mustapha’s campaign organisation, Dr. Ipaye, informed them that a consensus arrangement had been reached in favour of Senator Daniel at the Awujale’s palace.
He said the arrangement led Senator Lekan Mustapha to step down from the contest.
“The alleged primary referred to by Senator Gbenga Daniel was never held. If a primary had not been held by 5 p.m., why is somebody claiming to have won five local governments?” Odufowokan said.
“Senator Daniel never surfaced at the venue until a deal was reached very late in the night at the palace of the late Awujale,” he added.
Odufowokan further alleged that Senator Daniel had to persuade Dr. Ipaye to publicly raise his hands so disappointed supporters of Senator Lekan Mustapha could accept the consensus arrangement.
Reacting to claims that Senator Daniel was prevented from attending a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu Ode, Odufowokan denied the allegation, insisting that nobody stopped the former governor from entering the venue.
He explained that the disagreement stemmed from Senator Daniel’s insistence on entering the venue with a large convoy of supporters, contrary to the wishes of party leaders.
According to him, he personally approached the senator alongside the chairman of Odogbolu Local Government and advised him to proceed into the venue with only a smaller vehicle carrying himself and his security aides, but Daniel allegedly refused.
“He decided he was not going to participate in the meeting. Senator Daniel only came on TV to play to the gallery,” he said.
On Senator Daniel’s opposition to Governor Abiodun’s endorsement for the Ogun East APC senatorial ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, Odufowokan expressed confidence that the governor would emerge victorious in the party primary.
“Governor Abiodun will win the Ogun State primary because he has given Ogun East legacy projects we can never forget. He has given us roads, an airport, health projects, among others,” he said.
Responding to Senator Daniel’s claim that he facilitated the establishment of a naval dockyard in Ogun State, Odufowokan maintained that the project was conceived and executed by Governor Abiodun after consultations with naval authorities.
“All documents relating to the project have the imprint of Governor Dapo Abiodun,” he said, challenging Daniel to provide documentary evidence linking him directly to the initiative.
He further argued that Senator Daniel merely moved motions on the floor of the Senate after discussions between Governor Abiodun and naval authorities had already been concluded.
Also speaking, Dr. Arabambi maintained that Senator Lekan Mustapha agreed to step down for Senator Daniel through a consensus arrangement brokered at the Awujale’s palace.
“This is the first time we are having a clean opposition in Ogun State. During Daniel’s time, you couldn’t query him or challenge him the way he is now challenging Governor Abiodun,” Arabambi said.
“Some of us have cases against Governor Abiodun, but the kind of freedom we enjoy now did not happen under Governor Daniel,” he added.
